Use rubber gloves when cleaning
Environmental toxins don’t just come from pollution outside—they could be coming from inside your home. Household cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that could cause cancer, including phthalates, petroleum solvents, and formaldehyde.
One study found that women who reported the highest cleaning product use had double the risk of breast cancer compared to those with the lowest use—although, this could be because women who had breast cancer were hyper-aware of anything they may have done to ’cause’ their cancer.
Even so, given the toxic chemicals in household cleaners, it’s best to use caution. ‘Don’t use strong solvents, drain-cleaners, or cleaning agents that could get absorbed through the skin without using rubber gloves,’ Dr. Kabat says. Or better yet, clean with non-toxic products like baking soda and vinegar.
